Word: troop
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...Aides billed the six-hour stop as a fact-finding mission for the President, saying Bush wanted to see for himself what was happening in Iraq, since it will be his responsibility to make the final call about troop levels. "This gives the president an opportunity first hand to hear from people directly involved and make his own assessments at the same time," said National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on board Air Force One Sunday night...
...After speaking with with Petraeus and Crocker, Bush struck an optimistic note, saying that they had told him troop levels could come down in Iraq if stabilization continued at the current pace. But speaking to an ebullient crowd of service men and women Bush said, "When we begin to draw down troops in Iraq it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure...
...Bush can expect a warm welcome at Al Asad. U.S. troop morale in Anbar province is high thanks to Marine and Army victories over al Qaeda during the past year. Bush also has some momentum behind him following a month of Iraq visits by members of Congress, in which an almost universally negative outlook was replaced by a more optimistic view, even among some Democrats. Still, polls show that 70% of Americans disapprove of the President's handling of the war; aides hope that his personal presence in the region - even on Labor Day, when news is far from most...
...said, "Obviously there's concerns about families, rotations. People who have got young kids want to be with their kids. I understand that. On the other hand, many of them reup," he said, arguing that reenlistment rates are high in Anbar. Would service members' concerns affect his decision about troop levels later this month? "The main factor that will affect my decision on troop levels is, can we succeed, what does it take to succeed?" Bush answered. "Because failure would lead to harm to America, is what I believe. As a matter of fact I'm certain...
...strategy has worked beautifully. But there's a problem. One way Romney and Giuliani have evaded clear answers on the surge is by delaying the question until September, when General David Petraeus will report on its progress. Now September is here. Petraeus will probably oppose any immediate troop withdrawal, deferring any drawdown until next spring. Bush and most conservative pundits will demand that the surge continue into 2008. And Romney and Giuliani will find it harder to bob and weave. The press, which has given both men an easy ride on the issue, may start turning the screws. With luck...